Traverse City Record-Eagle

Our Views

September 4, 2012

Editorial: Cheers

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n To Linda Woods, an Air Force veteran and a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, who became the first American Indian woman veteran locally and possibly in the state and the nation to make and carry an Eagle staff into tribal ceremonies and events. It was dedicated at the Peshawbestown Traditional 2012 Jingtamok last month.

n To the 26 people who were sworn in as American citizens in a ceremony Aug. 22 at the Maritime Museum at Glen Haven in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. About 12,000 people become U.S. citizens every year in Michigan.

n To the United Way of Northwest Michigan Volunteer Center for its 17th Annual Day of Caring Thursday, which helps find volunteers for spruce-up and fix-up projects at area nonprofits. It also includes a week-long food drive, which started Friday and runs throughout this week. The number of projects needing volunteers this year totaled 68, up from 41 last year; 472 volunteers signed up to help. Projects this year ranged from building ramps for the disabled to a donation drive to fill a Mancelona school bus with student supplies. The Day of Caring kickoff breakfast starts at 8 a.m. at the Open Space.

n To Beach Bums third baseman Jose Vargas, who won the Morgan Burkhart Award Thursday as the Frontier League's Most Valued Player. Vargas led the league with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs. Cheers also to Gregg Langbehn, who received the Manager of the Year Award. All-Star honors went to Chase Burch, Vargas and Jeff Flagg in the outfield. Traverse City, which leads the league in attendance, took Organization of the Year honors.

n To the History Center of Traverse City for its successful "Lego Carnival: Building Blocks of Traverse City" exhibit, which attracted more than 20,000 visitors since opening in March. It closed Saturday.

n To the organizers of the upcoming Empire Air Force Reunion Sept. 19-23. The Empire Air Force Station was established in 1950 and used as a radar site until 1978. Large numbers of airmen were stationed there to run the high-tech, top-secret Cold War operation. The Federal Aviation Agency operated it after 1965. Cheers also to the Empire Area Museum for preserving its history in exhibits.

n To PEACE Ranch, a faith-based center on Hoosier Valley Road that uses rescued horses to provide therapy for children, veterans and others interested in caring for colts, fillies and foals.

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